Safety shield for tractor power take-offs



mamas Jme 3948.

L. A. HARDY SAFETY SHIELD FOR TRACTOR POWER TAKE-OFFS Filed Oct. 27; 1945 SAFETY S F03 Lloyd A. Hardy, Cambridge, 11L, asslgnor to ternatioinal ester Company, a corporation of New .lercey Application @ctcber 27, 1M5, Serial No. 625,925

' ll @la. (61. 84-3) l 2 The present invention relates to a. new and farm implements. The tractor i is provided improved safety shield for tractor power takewith a draw-bar ii and a power take-oil shaft offs and has for one of its principal objects the 12. A hitch part 53 of an implement such as a provision of means whereby the safety shield is harvester thresher, a windrow harvestena corn adapted to be temporarily swung out of posia picker, or any one of a number of tractor trailtion in order to make attachments and detachbehind farm implements is attached at it to the merits from the tractor, tractor draw-bar M. It is quite often the case At the present time tractor trailing implements that the trailing implements require a Source Of generally receive their power from a rear power driving power and hence it is necessary to extend take-0d shaft on the tractor which extends rearit) the power take-oi? drive shaft 52 of the tractor wardly to drive the trailing implement. This m rea wflidly to imp t dr e to the e ments to power take-off drive shaft is normally equipped be driven in the trailing implement. This exwith at least two universal joints to permit contended power take -off shaft is necessarily protlnuous driving of the implement even during vlded With 8 P o universal Joints l a d a turning of the tractor. lid to give the drive shaft sumcient flexibility, thus Safety shields are provided as regular equipenabling the e e t to co t ue d iv n du ment with the sale of tractors and implements, ins turnin of the t act e op ator of a and therefore, if the user desires to protect himtra tor with a trailin implement is very often self from the rotating drive shaft, in need only req i d o set o from is positio on the keep the safety shield in its proper position 3% tractor and make adjustments or clean out Parts above the drive shaft. It has been found, howon the trailing imp t n O der to make ever, that the user or operator is not mainly some of these adjustments and clean out the concerned with his own safety but rather dem ine. it is necessary to le ve the tr ctor sires speed of assembling and disassembling the p w r take-Off Shaft turning in Order to ate tractor trailing implements from the tractor. As such adjustment and clean-out. If this power a result, the safety shields are generally left in take-off shaft with the pair of niv rsal Jointsv the tool shed and many accidents occur. It is 5 and it w r un a d d. th y w uld indeed therefore a primary object of this invention to create a h zard to the workman. Every y provide a safety shield that will not necessitate many fa e s se t e ves. n a m o a les. its entire removal during assembly operations p y because the rota-(live Parts 01 farm and one that will automatically resume its safety in ry are not properly shieldedf Course. covering position even though the user there are many lesser accidents, such as tearnegligently leaves it in an open position. ing of clothing. w h are not 80 86110118, but if An important object of this invention is to y could e eliminated it would e a eat provide a safety shield for tractor power takesatisfaction to the urers of farm maoff shafts being hinged at one end thereof. ne y.

Another and further important object of this A shield 51 is fixedly attached to the tractor invention is to provide a telescoping safety it and covers the power take-off stub shaft i2 shield for rotating shafts. extending rearwardly from the tractor. Another Other and further important objects of the fixed Shield 93 18 provided 0 the trailing 1minvention will become apparent from the dis- Plement above c hitch P811? This e d l8 closures in the following specification and acs an tension i9 progressing rearwardly to a companying drawing, in which: point where the drive shaft is carried into the Figure 1 is a perspective view f th safety trailing machine. In between these fixed shields shield of this invention mounted in operating 11 and i8 is a sp e which ies i e th and position; which must readily be accessible to the oper- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the safety ator for lubricating and attaching and detachshield of this invention swung upwardly: ing of the rearwardly extending drive shaft 20 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the safety shield to and from the tractor power take-off shaft l2. assembly as shown in Figure 1; and Ordinarily, a simple telescoping shield is ar- Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the ranged to cover the drive shaft between the line c c of Figure 3. fixed shields i7 and i8. The means for attach- As shown in the drawing: ing this simple shield took the form of bolts, and

The reference numeral i0 indicates generally a w it was necessary to remove the bolt from both tractor of the agricultural type adapted to draw ends of the shield in order to remove this shield and give access to the drive shaft 20 therebeneath. Such a device was inconvenient and the operator usually removed the shield at once and left it oil. The present shield 2| incorporates the telescopic features of the formerly used safety shield and has an outer part 22 and an inner part 23. The inner part 23 is attached to the fixed shield l8 on the implement by means of a hinge 24. The portion 28 of the hinge 24 is fixed rigidly to the inner telescoping portion 23 of the shield 2|. The portion 28 of the hinge 24 is yieldably mounted on the fixed shield l8. This yieldable mounting comprises a bolt 21 projecting upwardly through the fixed shield l8 and through the portion 28 of the hinge 24. A coil spring 28 surrounds the projecting portion of the bolt 21 and anut 28 is adapted to engage thebolt 21 and also engage the spring 28 for creating adjustable tension on the portion 28 of the hinge 24. Ordinarily the hinge 24 remains in a relatively flatposition. However, if it is necessary for the shield to move upwardly during a turning of the tractor or possibly at some time during travel over rough ground, the hinge 28 is capable of moving upwardly against the action of the spring 28.

The shield 2| has its upper telescoping part 22 equipped with a latch member 30, as best shown in Figure 4. The latch 30 is designed to hold the shield portion 22 in fixed relationship with respect to the stationary shield H on the tractor l0. As shown in Figure 4, the telescoping portion 22 supports a vertical bolt 3| very similar to the bolt 21 attaching the hinge 24 to the stationary shield l8 on the implement. A coil spring 32 surrounds the bolt 3| and is maintained in position by a bolt'or nut 33 and washer 34, The

lower end of the spring 32 rests on and acts against a lock member 38. This lock member 38, as shown in Figure 1, has an upwardly inclined handle portion 38 capable of being gripped for causing rotation of the lock member about the bolt 3|, A cooperating latch member is provided on the shield l1 and includes an auxiliary piece of material 31 welded or otherwise attached beneath the stationary shield l1 with an upwardly extending flange 38 at the rear end of the shield |1. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the element 31 is slotted at 38. The slot projects outwardly through the flange 38 and permits a sliding of the bolt 3| therein. In attaching the shield portion 22 to the stationary shield H. the portion 22 with its upright bolt member 3| is telescopically extended with respect to the portion 23 into the slot 39 in the member 31 having the fiange 33. The slot 33 is supplemented with an alined slot 40 in the stationary shield l1. During extension of the shield portion 22 and its unitary bolt 3| into the slot 33, it is necessary to raise the lock member 35 by lifting up the handle 38. When the shield is attached, as shown in the operation includes several simple steps. The latch 30 is disengaged by raising the lock member 35 to a height above the flange 38, at which time the telescoping shield 2| is collapsed thereupon pulling the outer portion 22 from its position beneath the stationary shield l1 on the tractor. its hinge 24 and in its upper position, as shown in Figure 2, the inner telescopic portion 23 rests on the bolt 21 which supports the hinge member 28. The operator now has complete access to the drive shaft 20 and may either attach or detach the drive shaft 20 from the tractor power take-off shaft 2. It will be noted that at all times the shield 2| is not removed from the implement but remains in an upwardly swung position, as shown in Figure 2. The operator is not apt to remove the nut 29 from the bolt 21 and completely remove the shield 2|. In fact, he is warned against such removal, and further the bolt 21 may be equipped with a means for pre-- venting removal of the nut 29. Regardless of this particular point, the operator attempting to reach the drive shaft 20 will take the path of least resistance and will swing the shield 2| about its hinge 24 and will not remove the shield 2| from the implement. Prior to resuming operation of the tractor drawn implement, the shield 2| should be swing down into position for engagement of the latch 30 with the stationary shield l1 on the tractor. However, it is one of the important features of this invention to provide for an automatic dropping of the shield into position over the drive shaft 20 immediately upon starting forward movement of the tractor and implement. This is accomplished by the precarious balancing of the shield 2| in this upward position, as shown in Figure 2. and hence as soon as any jarring occurs, such as initial forward movement of the tractor, the shield 2| falls forwardly into its drive shaft covering position.

What is claimed is:

Figures 1, 3, and 4. the lock member 38 maintains the shield in fixed position until such time as it is raised and permitted rearward movement over the up-tumed flange 38. As in the case of the opposite or hinged end when traveling over rough terrain, the shield portion 22 may move downwardly against the action of the spring 32. The latch means including the latch member or element on the swingable shield and the cooperat- 1. A safety device for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising, a shield, hinge means for attaching said shield to the trailing implement, and latch means including a latch member connected to the shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the tractor for removably attaching said shield to the tractor.

2. A safety device for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising, a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a shield hinged for upward swinging movement to one of said fixed shields, and latch means for attaching the other end of said hinged shield to the other of the fixed shields, said latch means including a latch member connected to the hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to one of the fixed shields.

3. A safety device for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a telescopic shield hinged for upward swinging movement to one of said fixed shields. and latch means for attaching the other end of said hinged shield to the other of the fixed shields, said latch means The shield may then be raised about including a latch member connected to said hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the other of the fixed shields.

'4. A covering for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a telescopic shield hinged at one end to the fixed shield on the implement for vertical swinging movement, and means for latching and unlatching the other'end of the telescopic shield to said fixed shield on the tractor including a latch member connected to the hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the fixed shield on the tractor.

5. A covering for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a telescopic shield having a spring-mounted hinge connection to one of said fixed shields, and means for latching and unlatching the other end of the telescopic shield on the other of the fixed shields, said latch means including a latch member connected to said hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the other of the fixed shields.

6. A covering for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a telescopic shield having a spring-mounted hinge connectlon to one of said fixed shields, said springmounted hinge including a bolt projecting upwardly from said fixed shield and forming a part thereof, a hinge part loosely engaging said bolt, a spring surrounding said bolt and tending to force said hinge part downwardly, and means for latching and unlatching the other end of the telescopic shield on the other of the fixed shields. said latch means including a latch member connected to said hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the other of the fixed shields.

l. A covering for a drive shaft extending between a tractor and a trailing implement comprising a fixed shield on the tractor and a spaced apart fixed shield on the implement, a telescopic shield having a spring-mounted hinge connection to one of said fixed shields, said springmounted hinge including a bolt projecting upwardly from said fixed shield and forming a part thereof, a hinged part loosely enga in said bolt, a spring surrounding said bolt and tending to force said hinge part downwardly, a nut ensuing the upper end of said bolt and providing adjustable compression on said spring. and means for latching and unlatching the other end of the telescopic shield on the other of the fixed shields, said latch means including a latch member connected to said hinged shield and a cooperating latch member connected to the other 0! the fixed shields.

8. Protective shielding for a power shaft connectlon between two coupled vehicles, comprising in combination, a pair of fixed shields mounted on said vehicles, respectively, adapted to be disposed in aligned, spaced relation, an interconnecting shield structure between said pair of shields, said structure permanently connected to one of said fixed vehicle mounted shields, and disengageable means connecting said interconnecting shield structure with the other of said vehicle mounted shields.

9. Protective shielding for a power shaft connection between two coupled vehicles, comprising in combination, a pair of fixed shields mounted on said vehicles, respectively. adapted to be disposed in aligned, spaced relation, an interconnecting shield structure between saidpair of shields, said structure permanently connected to one of said vehicle mounted shields, said shield structure including a shield shii'table to and away from one of the fixed vehicle mounted shields, and disengageable means connecting said interconnecting shield structure with the other of said fixed vehicle mounted shields.

10. Protective shielding for a power shaft connection between two coupled vehicles, comprising in combination, a pair of fixed shields mounted on said vehicles, respectively, adapted to be disposed in aligned, spaced relation, an interconnecting shield structure between said pair of shields, said structure permanently connected to one of said vehicle mounted shields, said shield structure including a shield shiftable to and away from one of the fixed vehicle mounted shields, disengageable means connecting said interconnecting shield structure with the other of said fixed vehicle mounted shields, and means cooperating with the disengageable means constructed and provided for lateral swinging movement of the shield structure.

11. Protective shielding for a power shaft connection between two coupled vehicles, comprising in combination, a pair of shields mounted on said vehicles, respectively, adapted to be disposed in aligned, spaced. relation, an interconnecting shield between said pair of shields, means permanently connecting said interconnecting shield to one of said vehicle mounted shields providing for longitudinal shifting and lateral swinging movement of said interconnecting shield relative thereto, and disengageable means connecting said interconnecting shield with the'other of said vehicle mounted shields.

LIDYD A. HARDY.

' REFERENCES crrsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

